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Captive tiger breeding breeds suffering. Thailand must enforce a ban

This International Tiger Day 2018 (July 29), we’re urging Thai authorities to end captive tiger breeding for wildlife tourist attractions and the traditional medicine industry

Tigers worldwide, and particularly in Thailand, are being bred to fuel the cruel wildlife tourism and traditional medicine industries.

At wildlife tourist attractions in Thailand, tigers are often used as photo props for tourist selfies.

Tigers are also suffering on a staggering scale to meet the demand for traditional medicine. There are long-standing beliefs that tiger body parts can cure everything from cancer to virility issues, when the reality is that scientifically-proven, cruelty-free alternatives are readily available.

The two trades are connected, with ongoing investigations suggesting that many tigers in tourism end up being killed for use in traditional medicine.

We’re urging Thai authorities to enforce a ban on captive breeding by 2020. Without captive breeding, fewer tigers will become part of these two trades, and ultimately fewer tigers will suffer.

Tigers are wildlife – they belong in the wild. But the reality is cubs bred in captivity will never get to live in their natural environment.

Viggo is chained all day long on a concrete slab, with no food or water so tourists can take pictures with him.

Selfies mean suffering

From the moment they’re born, captive-bred cubs at tourist attractions endure immense cruelty. They live in horrific conditions. They’re kept in barren enclosures, with limited access to fresh food and water.